Growing rosemary at home

Rosemary is a small light-loving bush that migrated to our area from the Mediterranean. Due to their wonderful aroma, the twigs of the plant have been used in cooking for many dishes for several centuries. The substances contained in rosemary improve mood, relieve stress, and improve skin condition.

A spicy heat-loving plant is unable to withstand the winter of the middle lane. To preserve rosemary until spring, gardeners have to move it to an apartment and continue growing at home.

Features of growing at home

Despite the fact that rosemary came to us from warm countries, it must be kept in cool conditions in winter. It is best to place the plant pot on a well-insulated balcony or windowsill on the south side of the house.

In addition, the plant needs good air circulation for several hours a day. These are, perhaps, all the features of growing rosemary on a windowsill in an apartment. All other requirements are quite standard and easy to fulfill.

What varieties are suitable for growing in an apartment

Before planting a bush you like, you need to take into account the fact that in nature, rosemary can grow up to 2 m in height and 1.5 m in width. Naturally, such a large-sized plant cannot fit in any apartment. Therefore, in a confined space, it is recommended to grow undersized varieties rosemary such as Rosinka, Tenderness, Severn Sea, Taurentius. During the flowering period, the above varieties are covered with white, blue and purple small flowers with a delicate aroma.

Tall species can also be grown on a windowsill, only they need to be cut frequently. Among plants 1-1.5 m high, it is worth paying attention to the Veshnyakovsky Semko variety - with leathery leaves and purple flowers, Salem - with fragrant purple flowers, Roseus - with large pink flowers.

How to plant and grow on a windowsill - features, conditions and step-by-step instructions

When growing rosemary on a windowsill, it is important to comply with all agrotechnical requirements. Only a bush growing in a favorable environment will serve as an interior decoration, a storehouse of useful substances and unique taste.

What should be the place

Before you get a spicy plant, you need to familiarize yourself with its characteristics in advance.The following information will help you determine if your rosemary will be able to create the right conditions.

Temperature

The optimum temperature in the room where the rosemary pots are located is+ 12- + 16 C... Warmer environments are bad for spring blooms.

Important! Rosemary reacts to sharp fluctuations in temperature by dropping leaves.

Humidity

So that the plant is not attacked by fungi, the air humidity in the apartment should be below average. Rosemary will grow rapidly if the room is ventilated daily for 2-3 hours. In winter, air circulation can be arranged using a conventional fan.

The potting medium should be constantly moist, but never wet. It is better to underfill the rosemary and allow the soil to dry out for a short time than to turn the soil mixture into a swamp.

Illumination

In order for rosemary to form leaves more actively, in winter a light-loving plant must be placed on the south or east windowsill. In the summer, a container of rosemary is transferred to the balcony or planted on the site. The pot must be periodically turned towards the light by one or the other side. Thus, deformation can be avoided when the plant bends to one side of the light, which often happens when growing light-loving plants on a windowsill.

On short winter days, rosemary gratefully responds to morning and evening supplementary lighting with fluorescent lamps.

What container to plant

Due to the fact that the root system of rosemary is highly branched, the plant must be planted in spacious clay or terracotta pot. The optimal dimensions of the planting container: height 15-20 cm, width 25 cm.Deviations from the recommended values ​​downward by 3-5 cm are allowed.

What kind of soil (substrate)

To plant rosemary on a windowsill in an apartment in a flower shop they buy neutral or slightly alkaline soil for growing seedlings. Instead of purchased soil, you can use a mixture of garden soil and sand. The main condition is that the soil must be loose and breathable. Before planting, the bottom of the pot is laid with a layer of drainage through which excess water will flow into the pan.

Preparing seeds or cuttings for planting

Semyonand rosemary sprout very long and poorly: seedlings make their way to the surface only a month after sowing. To accelerate the emergence of seedlings, on the eve of planting, the seeds are soaked for 24 hours in water or a growth stimulator.

Cherenko preparationin rosemary for subsequent cultivation on the windowsill is carried out in the following sequence:

1. In late spring, on a healthy bush, the tops of young shoots 8-10 cm long are cut off.
2. Planting material is cleaned from foliage
3. The cut sites are dipped in a growth stimulator, thanks to which roots are formed faster.

Direct landing

All preparatory work will be useless if the landing is not correct. The procedure depends on the type of planting material.

Seeds rosemary is sown in this way:

1. The planting material is evenly spread over a container covered with a damp substrate. Please note that due to poor germination of seeds, you need twice as much as you plan to get seedlings.
2. Sprinkle them on top with a 0.5 cm layer of moist earth
3. The container with crops is covered with glass or foil and placed in a warm place where the temperature is + 25- + 30C. Lighting is irrelevant at this stage.
4. As soon as the seedlings hatch, the box is gradually opened and transferred to a bright place. Moisten the substrate as needed using a spray bottle.

Landing cuttings rosemary for growing on a windowsill is carried out as follows:

1. To prepare the substrate, sand is mixed with peat moss.
2. Prepared cuttings are buried in the soil at an angle of 30-45 degrees.
3. The container is covered with a film and holes are made in it so that fresh air can flow to the handle.
4. The box is placed in a warm, bright place. The mini greenhouse needs to be periodically opened and sprayed.
5. At 3-4 weeks of age, new plants can be transplanted into a permanent pot.

Video: features and difficulties of growing rosemary in a pot at home

How to care after planting and before harvest

All cultivated plants, without exception, need care, including the unpretentious rosemary. Of course, you can let everything take its course, however, in this case, the plant will be "liquid" and low-yielding. So what does rosemary need to grow normally at home?

Watering

Watering the plant, you need to adhere to the golden mean. For rosemary, prolonged dampness or drought is extremely undesirable: in the first case, the roots will begin to rot and the plant will die, in the second the leaves will turn yellow and fall off, after which the rosemary will dry out. During flowering and in winter, the amount of watering is minimized.

Important! It is necessary to water the plant at the root, since the ingress of moisture on the leaves causes the appearance of fungi.

Top dressing and fertilization

The first time the rosemary seedlings are fed at the age of 1 month. In the future, the bush is fed 2 times a month. In winter, when the plant grows very slowly, rosemary is fertilized once a month. As a top dressing, mineral fertilizers are used in accordance with the instructions or organic dressings (1: 5).

Transplant and pruning

You need to transplant rosemary once a year, preferably in the spring. The transplant is carried out by the transshipment method:

1. The plant, together with the earthen clod, is removed from the old pot.
2. In tall varieties, part of the roots and aerial parts are cut off in order to dull their growth. Low-growing ones are transplanted without pruning.
3. The prepared rosemary is placed in a new pot and the missing soil is poured, lightly tamped and watered.

Over time, the branches of mature bushes become very bare, and the plant becomes less decorative. To prevent this from happening, the rosemary is periodically pruned. With the help of pruning, the bush is given the desired shape, and the cut off branches are harvested for the winter or used for cooking in the near future.

Worth knowing! Harvesting and crown formation is best done during flowering, when the maximum amount of nutrients is collected in the branches.

Cutting stimulates the plant to grow actively, as a result of which rosemary grows many lateral shoots and becomes more luxuriant and beautiful.

Important! Rosemary will tolerate pruning well if at least a third of the entire length remains from young shoots. Pruning to old wood makes the plant weak and vulnerable.

Diseases and pests

Rosemary growing on the site is much less prone to colonization of microorganisms and insects than a spice plant grown in an apartment on a windowsill, but it is still susceptible to some diseases.

• If the indoor air is too dry, the plant attacks spider mite. You can get rid of the pest by spraying the plant with biopreparations safe for health or self-prepared solutions. If rosemary sprigs are not added to food, the plant is treated with an insecticide.
• Places of congestion scabbards treated with a weak solution of vinegar. Rubbing is done every 5 days.
• Yellowed lower leaves indicate a lack of moisture.
• To get rid of blotches, rosemary is sprayed with preparations containing copper.

Terms of germination and harvesting

The seeds of a spicy plant are simultaneously endowed with low and long germination. Provided that optimal conditions are created, seedlings appear only 3-5 weeks after sowing.

TO harvesting the fragrant plant can be started immediately after the length of the branches will reach 15 cm... To make the rosemary bush faster, experienced gardeners recommend periodically pinching the top.

The main thing in growing rosemary on a windowsill in an apartment where there is a pot with a bush is to create the right microclimate.It is equally important to cut off the spice in time and treat it from diseases and pests. For the care rendered, rosemary will certainly thank the gardener with its appearance and fragrant twigs.

Video: growing rosemary at home

Growing a rosemary pot at home is not only fun, but also rewarding. The plant is used both as a spice and as a natural medicine. The decorativeness of the bush allows you to decorate the apartment.

Rosemary: the nuances of growing a house in a pot

If comfortable conditions are not created for the plant, it begins to gradually lose its attractiveness and useful properties. Ideally, grow a flower in a winter garden, but if it is absent, you can do it in an apartment. Rosemary in good conditions becomes a small tree, which should be considered when choosing a plant.

It is also worth remembering that if the wrong care is taken, it starts to hurt and may die. In the summer, it is necessary to take the flower out into the fresh air. This will improve the development of the bush, increase the content of nutrients in it.

Planting a plant

Its further development depends on how correctly the flower is planted. Mistakes during the planting phase lead to the fact that the rosemary begins to wither and may die.

Requirements for soil and pot

The result of growing a plant depends on the correct choice of pot and soil. Rosemary root is very branched and needs a spacious container. The roots have a high oxygen demand, and therefore the material of the pot must be porous. Clay is the best choice. Coated pots should not be used. A pot with an average diameter of about 20 cm is suitable for a young plant.

The plant needs special soil. At a flower shop, you can buy a lime-based gravelly substrate, but it is better to prepare a soil for rosemary yourself.

For this, the following components are connected:

• leafy soil - 2 parts;
• sod soil, from which all roots have been removed - 2 parts;
• humus - 1 part;
• coarse river sand - 1 part;
• peat - 1 part.

Before the plant is planted, the soil must be very well shed with water.

Home care for rosemary

In addition to proper planting, the plant needs full care, in which the fragrant herb will receive everything it needs. By the attractive appearance of the plant, you can immediately understand that it is good for it and that there is sufficient care for it.

Temperature, humidity and lighting

During the growing season, the plant requires an air temperature of +23 to +25 degrees. In winter, rosemary goes into a dormant state, and therefore requires a decrease in temperature. It should be between +6 and +15 degrees. In an apartment, it is rare, it turns out, to create an optimal temperature. So that the rosemary growing in the apartment does not suffer from overheating, in winter it must be placed as close to the window as possible. Also, for cooling, you can put a bowl of snow or ice next to it, which, melting, will slightly reduce the temperature around the plant.

Air humidity is an important indicator, since when it is insufficient, the indoor flower begins to turn yellow and wither. In summer, in most cases, additional air humidification is not required for the plant. In winter, due to heating, the air in the room becomes drier, and therefore it is necessary to increase the humidity. To do this, expanded clay is poured into the pallet with the plant, which is abundantly moistened. Water should not reach the drainage holes of the pot, so there is no risk that the plant will rot due to excessive soil moisture. At the same time, due to the evaporation of water, the air around the rosemary becomes humid enough for it to function normally.

The plant is light-loving and requires intense lighting for at least 6 hours a day. In order for the crown of the shrub to develop evenly, and not one-sidedly, the pot must be turned 180 degrees once every 2 days.In the summer heat, so that the grass does not get sunburn, it must be slightly shaded. In winter, the lighting should be as intense as possible. It is good to use phytolamps for supplementary lighting of a flower, the light spectrum of which has a beneficial effect on the growth of indoor plants.

Watering the plant

When growing rosemary at home, it should be remembered that it tolerates overdrying more easily than overmoistening. However, despite this, the flower should be watered regularly, using well-separated water at room temperature.

If the plant does not have enough water, its foliage begins to turn yellow. When there is too much of it, the rosemary begins to shed the leaves, which at the same time retain their green color.

The signal that it needs to be watered is the drying out of the top layer of the earth. It is unacceptable to wait until the soil is completely dry. In extreme heat in summer, it is useful to spray the grass early in the morning or late in the evening, but not more often than once a day. For this, the same water is used as for irrigation.

Top dressing and fertilization

Rosemary is fed during the growing season from spring to November 1 time per month using a complex fertilizer for indoor plants. It should be diluted in twice the volume of water compared to the instructions in the instructions. It is also useful to water 2 times a season with an aqueous solution of bird droppings, prepared at the rate of 1:30.

In winter, it is highly undesirable to feed rosemary. If it begins to weaken due to a lack of nutrients, then a one-time feeding with a complex composition is allowed. This phenomenon usually occurs when the plant has not been transplanted in a timely manner.

Transfer

Up to 5 years old, rosemary is very active in building up the root system. For this reason, in the early years, it must be transplanted every April into a pot that will be 5-7 cm wider than the previous one. After 5 years, the flower is transplanted once every 3 years, also in April. In this case, the pot should be 10-12 cm wider than the previous one.

Propagation of rosemary

Breeding a plant through seeds at home is quite problematic, and therefore the propagation method is mainly used. To obtain new plants, the apical shoots 7.5 cm long are cut off. They should be cut with sharp scissors at an angle of 45 degrees. The cuttings are moistened in clean water and the place of the cut is rolled in "root" powder. Then the excess powder is shaken off and the cuttings are planted in moist peat. The container with them is covered with a plastic bag, since greenhouse conditions are necessary for rooting. The roots appear in a month or a little earlier. Further care is carried out according to the standard scheme.

The main problems in growing

The main problem that a florist may face is powdery mildew. She, due to the peculiar leaves of rosemary, does not appear in the usual way. As a result of this, without being noticed, the disease progresses, and the plant dies from it. You can suspect the presence of a problem by browning the leaves. Growing rosemary in an apartment can also be complicated by higher than required temperatures in winter, when the plant should be dormant.

Pests and diseases

Rosemary is not prone to diseases, and only with excessive moisture does it develop powdery mildew. This problem is eliminated by normalizing the irrigation regime.

Pests can appear:

• shield;
• spider mite.

They fall on the flower in the summer months, when it is outside. To get rid of parasites, you need to wash the plant using laundry soap. Chemicals are required only when pests are abundant.

It is not easy to grow rosemary on your windowsill, but it is quite possible.

On the coast of such Mediterranean countries as France, Italy, Portugal and Spain, you can often find wild rosemary, but its garden variety has fallen in love with flower growers and gardeners in many European and not only countries. This plant got its name, sea dew or Rosmarinum, because, according to the ancient Romans and Greeks, its light blue flowers are similar to the spray of sea foam that flew to the bushes growing on the coast. Nowadays, many people are passionate about Mediterranean cuisine. They buy this herb in the form of a powder or as part of seasonings, but nothing can compare with the aroma and taste of a freshly plucked leaf of greenery! Today, each of us, the inhabitants of modern apartments, may well grow rosemary at home. How to do this and what is required, we will tell you in more detail.

What it is

Rosemary (Rosmarinus), like sage, monarda, lavender and coleus, belongs to the Lamiaceae family. In warm climates, this is an evergreen shrub that grows in the garden or outdoors, the height of which can reach two meters. Its bark is brownish-gray, and the tetrahedral branches are covered with needle-like leaves wrapped around the edges, shiny on top and soft, fluffy underneath. This plant is a good melliferous plant, blooming from March to May with small pale blue flowers that are collected at the top of the branches. His root system is well developed and can go 3-4 meters deep, which should be taken into account when transplanting.

A bit of history

Even in ancient times, the ancient Greeks and Romans knew about the beneficial properties of rosemary and used it and the oil from it in cooking and perfumery. In the 13th century this plant was used as an element of medicines, for example, The Queen of Hungary Water. According to the surviving evidence, Queen Elizabeth of Hungary, who took this remedy, at the age of 72 was able to capture the Polish king, who offered her a hand and a heart. The inhabitants of medieval Europe knew how to grow rosemary, and planted it in pastures and meadows, and also cultivated it in their homes and associated many different signs and customs with it. The twigs of this plant were woven into bouquets and hairstyles of brides, were used in magical love spell rituals and to protect homes from nightmares. Rosemary branches were thrown into the grave of the deceased as a token of his memory. Documentary evidence has been preserved that houses were fumigated with the branches of this plant during the plague epidemic of the XIV-XV centuries.

Rosemary began to be used as a spice in the 16th century and was added not only in the preparation of meat and game dishes, but also in wine.

Where is it used

Today rosemary is widely used in cooking, medicine and in the production of cosmetics and perfumery. Many European housewives not only know how to grow rosemary at home, but also keep pots with it in their kitchen. This spice is widely used in English, French, Italian, Indian and Chinese cuisines. As an independent seasoning, rosemary is rarely used, as a rule, it is included in various flavored salts and spices, spice mixtures. Those who grow rosemary at home add it when preparing various vegetable and meat soups, salads, season fish, meat, poultry and game with it when frying or baking. In the food industry, Rosmarinum is used in the production of semi-finished products from fish or meat, pasta, in a variety of preservatives and marinades. In addition, this spice is used to flavor alcoholic beverages and beer.

Rosemary has long been used in folk medicine for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular and urinary systems, rheumatic joint lesions. Research by modern scientists has confirmed most of the beneficial properties attributed to this plant. Today rosemary is a part of medicines aimed at normalizing the functioning of the digestive system, means for increasing blood pressure and improving blood microcirculation.

How to grow rosemary

This plant, which came to us from warm Mediterranean countries, is difficult to endure the conditions of our unpredictable winters. If you plant it in the garden and do not cover it before the cold snap, it will die. Experienced gardeners recommend growing rosemary at home in winter, in summer, if possible, transplant it for a warm period in a garden or vegetable garden, and with the onset of cold weather, return it to a warm room.

This spicy plant is rather unpretentious and usually difficulties are associated with its germination from seeds. For the normal growth and development of a rosemary bush, moisture-permeable poor soil and sun are needed. This plant tolerates drought quite persistently.

To grow rosemary at home, you can use one of the following methods:

• buy rooted young seedlings in specialized garden centers or shops;
• stock up on seeds and patience;
• in cold weather, take an air cut from a young plant for rooting;
• take a few cuttings from a strong plant.

Trying to grow from seeds

Rosemary seeds are recommended to be sown in late February - early March, simply by spreading them over the surface of well-moistened soil and lightly pressing them into the ground with the palm of your hand.After that, you need to cover the planting containers with glass or thick film and put them in a refrigerator or any room with a constant temperature of + 50C + 70C for two to three weeks, and then transfer them to a warm room. After about two to three weeks, shoots should appear, if after a month this did not happen, then it is better to repeat the sowing. It is important not to overmoisten the soil and try to maintain the temperature in the room around + 100C + 120C.

Propagated by cuttings

Someone is trying to grow rosemary at home from seeds, but the most common way is to propagate this plant using cuttings. To do this, in late autumn, cut off young shoots about 7-10 cm long from an old rosemary bush. The lower leaves are removed, and the cuttings are dipped into any powder or solution to stimulate root formation, and then they can be placed in a dark glass container filled with water and wait until young roots are formed. After that, the seedlings are planted in separate pots and grown on a warm sunny window. Some gardeners skip the root formation stage and immediately root fresh cuttings in a peat-sand mixture. After 10-14 days, subject to fairly frequent spraying of rooted layers from a spray bottle, they are transplanted into large pots with loose soil.

Features of home content

To make you happy with the rosemary you grow, home care is as follows:

1. Since the plant is thermophilic, it needs a warm and well-lit place in your home. In summer, this spice will be happy to "live" on the southern window, but in winter it is better to put it on a cool windowsill, where the temperature will be in the range of + 100C + 150C.

2. In order for the plant not to lose its leaves in the autumn-winter period, it must artificially extend the daylight hours up to 7-8 hours, using additional lighting.

3. Water this plant sparingly in summer, and in winter only as the soil dries up.

4. If you grow rosemary at home, in the warm season, you can feed it with complex fertilizers twice a month. In winter, you can fertilize the plant once every two months.

Among spicy-aromatic plants, rosemary rightfully occupies one of the first places. In most European countries, it is grown everywhere, both in large agricultural firms and in private estates. And those who do not have their own plot of land cultivate rosemary as a houseplant so that they always have their favorite seasoning at hand. With us, it is just beginning to gain popularity, so many simply do not know how to grow this valuable crop from seeds at home.Meanwhile, this is not at all difficult to do, although you will have to be patient.

How to grow rosemary

Description of rosemary

Rosemary belongs to the evergreen shrubs of the Lamiaceae family. Wild representatives of this species are most common in the northern regions of Africa, southern Europe, and Cyprus. It was brought to Russia at the beginning of the century before last, and since then it grows here only in culture. In the wild, rosemary is not found on the territory of the Russian Federation, since it does not tolerate the climatic conditions of the middle zone.

Rosemary - description

The plant is a lush bush with a height of 50 to 200 cm (depending on the variety), with pubescent tetrahedral stems and small leaves, similar to needles. Purple, slightly elongated flowers are collected in 5-10 pieces at the tips of short shoots. After flowering, smooth, small, rounded brown fruit nuts are formed. Rosemary blooms in April-May, seeds ripen in mid-September.

Rosemary bloom

The leaves contain tannins, alkaloids and acids, but the most valuable component is essential oil, which is widely used in medicine and cosmetology. Depending on the region of growth, when harvesting raw materials, from 0.3 to 1.2% of oil is obtained from the total mass of the plant. The maximum content of essential oil is observed during abundant flowering and when ripe seeds are shedding.

The chemical composition of the aerial part of the plant

Carbohydrates	64.06 g
Protein	4.88 g
Ascorbic acid	61.2 mg
Thiamine	0.514 mg
Riboflavin	0.428 mg
Vitamin B6	1.74 mg
Potassium	955 mg
Magnesium	220 mg
Phosphorus	70 mg
Iron	29.25 mg
Selenium	4.6 mg
Zinc	3.23 mg

Growing from seeds

Growing rosemary in a pot

Growing this crop from seed takes a lot of time and patience, as opposed to propagating by cuttings. But getting seeds is much easier than getting good cuttings if rosemary is not grown anywhere nearby. The most optimal way to breed a spice at home is to grow a bush from seeds, and then propagate it vegetatively.

Seed preparation and sowing

Rosemary seeds

Rosemary: seeds

Rosemary, seeds from Holland

Rosemary seeds tend to germinate for a very long time, so sowing should be started no later than a month and a half before the onset of stable heat. This is usually the second half of February or early March, depending on the region. To speed up the germination process, the seeds must be properly prepared.

Step 1. The seeds are placed in a glass and poured with a small amount of warm, settled water. Leave to swell for 5-6 hours.

Germinating seeds

Seed soaking

Step 2... The soil substrate is prepared: 2 parts of garden soil with neutral acidity, 1 part of river sand, 1 part of rotted compost. If it is not possible to prepare the soil mixture on your own, use a ready-made substrate for indoor plants.

Step 3. Take containers for sowing up to 15 cm high, poured expanded clay or small pebbles for drainage on the bottom, fill it with a prepared substrate.

Specially prepared seedling mixes are fine, you can also use sand or vermiculite

Step 4. Spread the swollen seeds over the surface, sprinkle them a little with earth (no more than 0.4 cm), moisten the substrate with water from a spray bottle.

Plant the seeds in the box

Drizzle with water from a spray bottle

Step 5. The container is covered with a film or a transparent lid and placed in a warm place, for example, above a battery. The optimum temperature for germination is 25-30 degrees Celsius.

Cover the drawer

The first shoots will begin to appear no earlier than a month later, and for full shoots it will take 6 to 8 weeks. All this time, they maintain a stable temperature, and periodically check the moisture content of the substrate under the shelter. If necessary, the soil surface should be moistened with a spray gun.When shoots appear, the film must be removed to avoid the death of delicate shoots from the black leg.

Rosemairn sprouts in a box

Seedling care

Rosemary sprouts

The main condition for the normal development of seedlings is good lighting and warmth. It is best to put a box with seedlings on the windowsill on the south side, and in cloudy weather, also illuminate it with a phytolamp. The room temperature should not drop below 18 degrees. Watering is very moderate, through a spray, preferably in the morning.

Rosemary seed: sprout care

If the distance between the seedlings is at least 3 cm, it is not necessary to dive them into separate containers. With sufficient light, they can grow quite normally for a month without thinning. If the seedlings are too dense, picking is indispensable. As soon as two true leaves are formed, the seedlings dive into separate cups or small pots with loose and nutritious soil.

Rosemary transplant

When the sprouts reach a height of 3-4 cm, the seedlings can be hardened a little. They choose a warm, windless day for this and put the rosemary by the open window for a few minutes. It is very important to avoid drafts, otherwise the seedlings may die. Gradually, the hardening time is increased, you can take the pots with plants to the balcony and leave them outside for longer and longer. When outdoors, be sure to protect the seedlings from wind, rain and direct sunlight. During this period, the plants are very vulnerable, therefore, their care must be especially careful.

Growing rosemary in pots

Rosemary bush in a pot

Disembarkation to a permanent place

When the seedlings are strong enough and grow up to 7-8 cm in height, they can be transplanted to a permanent place. It can be open ground or a large flowerpot. If you are going to grow rosemary outdoors, choose the right place for it: it should be a well-lit area with drained light soil, preferably with an admixture of limestone. In a lowland, in the shade, in a ventilated place, rosemary will not grow, you will only waste your energy and destroy the plant.

Step 1. The soil is loosened well, grooves are made for the roots, a handful of rotted organic matter is introduced into each hole and mixed with the ground.

Step 2. The seedlings are carefully separated and taken out one at a time along with a clod of earth to minimize trauma to the root system.

Planting rosemary in the ground

Step 3. Each sprout is carefully lowered into a separate hole, leveled and sprinkled with soil from all sides. Water, add soil again and lightly tamp it with your hands.

When planting for decorative purposes, the minimum distance between the bushes should be 10 cm. When planting in order to collect raw materials, at least half a meter is left between the plants. If the rosemary is planted in pots, everything is done in much the same way, but first, several small holes are made in the bottom for drainage. Instead of ordinary soil, it is better to take a mixture of vermiculite and sand, so you can maintain optimal humidity in the flowerpot. After transplanting, the flowerpots are placed in a light shade for a couple of days to make it easier for plants to adapt to new conditions.

Plant care

Growing rosemary outdoors

One of the most important maintenance conditions is proper watering. The soil in a pot or in a garden bed should not be wet, but it should not dry out either. Watch the plant carefully: if the lower leaves have lightened, began to turn yellow, the roots do not have enough water. If the leaves fall off, this means an excess of moisture. Water should be poured directly onto the ground to keep the leaves dry. Plants intended for use in food should be fed only with organic fertilizers, no more than once every 2 months.

Rosemary is resistant to most diseases and pests, but sometimes it is affected by spider mites, scabbard and leaf spot.If the mite has just appeared on the plants, it is enough to wash the leaves with soapy water and the pest will disappear. In case of severe damage, only insecticides will help, for example, Fitoverm or Agravertin. If affected by spotting, the bushes need to be sprayed with copper-containing preparations.

Means "Fitoverm"

Fitoverm, instruction

In indoor conditions, the plant needs to provide maximum light. Periodically, the flowerpot should be turned to the window with the other side so that all shoots receive sufficient lighting.

Turn the pot

Also, do not forget to regularly air the bushes by exposing them to the balcony in warm weather. Over time, rosemary grows and requires formative pruning. It should be done at least twice a year - in early spring and early autumn.

With the onset of cold weather, plants in flowerpots should be brought into the house. In order for the bush to continue to develop normally in winter, the temperature in the room should not be higher than 16 and below 10 degrees Celsius. Rosemary, planted in beds, in the southern and central regions can winter in the ground under cover. It is best to sprinkle the soil at the roots with a thick layer of sawdust or dry foliage, and this must be done in time before the first frosts. To prevent thin shoots from breaking under the snow, you can bend them to the ground and cover them with spruce branches.

Propagation by cuttings

By autumn, bushes grown from seeds can be propagated by cuttings. By the way, this is an effective way to preserve the plant for the next year.

Step 1. The strongest shoots are chosen and cuttings 9-10 cm long are cut from them.

Rooting green rosemary cuttings

Rooted cuttings

Step 2. Prepare the soil: mix 1 part of sod land with 2 parts of sand and 1 part of peat. The resulting substrate is heated for at least an hour in the oven to destroy harmful microorganisms.

Step 3... They take a pot, pour a layer of expanded clay for drainage, then fill it with soil mixture, wate it abundantly with water.

Preparing the soil

Step 4. The lower ends of the cuttings are dipped in a root or another root formation stimulator, and planted in a prepared container. The cuttings are buried in the soil by about 3-4 cm.

Transplanting rosemary cuttings

Step 5. Cover the pot with a transparent bag, in which holes are made for ventilation, and put it on the windowsill from the south or west side. Be sure to shade from direct sunlight.

Cover the rosemary

Seedlings in peat pots

It will take about three weeks for rooting. All this time, monitor the temperature in the room, do not allow sudden changes in it. Examine the cuttings carefully, immediately remove the rotten twigs. When the root system is formed, you can start transplanting the plants into separate pots. Do everything as described above, but only take more containers so that there is enough space for the roots.

Rosemary tips

Rules for the collection and procurement of raw materials

Rosemary begins to be consumed in the second year after planting. By this time, the bush will already grow strong enough and grow, and many useful substances will accumulate in its leaves and young shoots. For drying and freezing, raw materials are collected during the flowering of the bush.

Cut off the twigs

Only young healthy stems are cut, with or without flowers. Cut shoots are laid out in a thin layer under a canopy or in a well-ventilated area with low humidity.

Wrap the rosemary with parchment paper while drying. Thus, dust will not settle during drying and rosemary will not fade in sunlight.

Dry rosemary separately from other fragrant herbs so as not to mix the smells. When the stems are dry, they can be shredded for convenience and stored in a glass container with a tight lid.

How to dry rosemary

If you prefer to freeze your herbs rather than dry them, take a clean plastic bag, fold dry, clean rosemary sprigs in them, remove excess air, and close tightly. The bags can now be placed in the freezer. With this method, greens are stored for several months without loss of taste, but in dry form and sealed containers even longer - about 2 years. But it is best, of course, to use freshly cut shoots, and growing rosemary indoors makes this possible.

Frozen storage

Video - Growing rosemary from seeds at home

Video - Planting rosemary in open ground